The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-06-08
A COSTA RIcAN COUP DErAT.
How Dr. Jimenez Became President and
then q Plain Citizen

How DIR. Jimenez Became President and
then q Plain Citizen
DIR. Jesus Jimenez may have been
learned man; he was not a wise one.
He had been made President of Costa
Rica by the army, and as soon as he got
supreme power in the republic, he gave
that important body the cold shoulder,
says Alfred E. Sears in the May Overland.
Ii was a mistake. He should have
borne it to the front, giving it promi-
nence; wearing it, so to speak, like a
rose in his top button hole on dress occa-
sions. On the contrary, he treated it
contemptuously, sneered at its pretti-
ness and fummery and degraded its
officers.
What can a single doctor of medicine
do against one entire regiment of infan-
try and a two gun battery of flying ar
tillery? Nothing, absolutely nothing.
His brass mortar and pellets are but tri-
fies against a howitzer and bullets.
But the army was also in an awkward
fix, for the army, as L said, had made
DIR. JimeneZ President by a coup detat-
A second coup following so soon ON the
steps of the former would never answer.
The army would lose its prestige. Still,
something must be done, for the most
popular officers and their friends i'm civil
life We're being banished by crowds from
the republic.
The difficulty was solved by Colonel
Tomas Guardia.
His brother was in command of the
one regiment of infantry. 1t was only
necessary. therefore, to get possession of
the artillery. So one morning the great
gates of the barracks were opened, and
two wagon loads of freshly cut grass
passed in as usral and the gates were
closed. Whereupon, there suddenly up
rose the two loads of grass, and fourteen
men, led by Don Thomas GuardIa,
pointed fourteen revolvers at the few
half awake soldiers in the patio, and the
job was done, killing only one foolish
officer, who attempted resistance to the
revolution of the people.
A lieutenant, with few men, waited
on DIR. Jimenez and told him he could
resume the practice of medicine, rs the
public would not require his services any
longer at the palace.
Nothing could have been more salts
factory to Dr. Jimenez. He really didn't
want power, and only accepted 1t be-
cause he couldn't see his way out
At 9 O'Clock he mounted his saddle
mule, with his alfarjas. and went around
among his patients; quietly said to his
friends that he was informed that
Tomas Guardia was in possession of
the supreme government, and that he
would be able to give his business better
attention than he had during the past
few months.
Before he returned to his house for
breakfast he called at the palace, smiled
and nodded toward the guard and sent
his card up to the new president.
You will naturally suppose that Don
Tomas on hearing of this sudden APP
pearance of the dethroned ruler in the
place where he had reigned but yester-
day. summoned his guard. buckled on
his sword. capped several revolvers. or
dered a squad of detectives to usher him
in and watch his every motion.
He did nothing of the kind, for two
reasons: There never lived any one
man of whom Tomas Guardia was
afraid. and of all men in the world. DIR.
Jesus Jimenez was the last man for any
body to be afraid Of
Therefore. when they met the inquir-
ing, somewhat serious looks of Don
Tomas disappeared before the cordial,
pleased smile of DIR. JimeneZ. and they
embraced with the fervor old friends.